Devil's Head wildfire flares up again

A wildfire that charred hundreds of hectares of forest around Devil's Head Mountain northwest of Calgary has flared up.

But a spokeswoman with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry said the blaze, whose source was embers left from a previous fire — isn't a major concern.

“There is visible smoke coming from the Devil's Head wildfire but it's still considered under control and not expected to grow outside of its containment perimeter,” Melissa Story said in an email Monday.

“We have firefighters monitoring it from the ground and air. It's currently burning the existing vegetation within the perimeter.”

On Sept. 4, Alberta Wildfire officials were alerted to a wildfire at the distinctive mountain north of Canmore, a popular spot for hiking, camping and hunting.

Firefighters attacked the flames located in rugged terrain, and nearly 700 hectares were blackened before it was beaten down.

The blaze has been blamed on people abandoning their campfire, with the province still seeking the guilty party.

“It's still under investigation, we're working with the RCMP on this,” said Story.

Those responsible for the wildfire could face fines of $600 to $840.

Meanwhile, 45 Alberta firefighters are nearing the end of their 14-day stint helping U.S colleagues battling blazes in Oregon that have devastated parts of the state.

The province kept Calgary-area firefighters close to home in case problems arose in the parched region.